Anticipated Arrival of Additional 150 Electric Buses by BVG Next Year
BVG Berlin Accelerates Electrification of Bus Fleet with New Depot and 270 Electric Articulated Buses
In a significant stride towards a greener future, the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) has laid the cornerstone for the first depot fully dedicated to electric buses in Sântisstraße, Marienfelde. This move marks the beginning of a larger-scale electrification of BVG's bus fleet, with further electric bus depots planned on Köpenicker Straße and Rummelsburger Straße.
BVG is investing heavily in the electrification of its bus fleet. As part of this effort, the authority has ordered 270 Solaris Urbino 18 electric articulated buses, set to join the fleet from 2025. This follows an initial delivery of 50 such buses, demonstrating BVG's commitment to a greener public transport system.
The order for the Solaris buses is part of a broader strategic push for electric buses in Berlin's public transport from 2025 onward. This aligns with new regulations requiring all newly purchased buses to be emission-free. BVG's fleet already includes 15 Mercedes eCitaro electric buses, acquired since 2018-2019, indicating an early adoption of electric buses.
The expansion of the electric bus fleet necessitates enhanced charging and maintenance capacity. While specific construction projects for electric bus depots by BVG are not explicitly mentioned, the scale of BVG's electric fleet growth strongly implies ongoing or planned developments of dedicated electric bus depots with charging facilities to support these vehicles.
The new depot in Sântisstraße, the first in over 60 years for the BVG, will include charging, workshop, and administration technology for electric buses. Next year, BVG expects to receive 150 electric articulated buses from the manufacturer Solaris, with another 120 planned for 2027. By the end of 2027, more than a third of the bus fleet (550 vehicles) will be electrically powered.
By 2030, the BVG aims to comprehensively expand and modernize workshops and rail facilities. The operation of battery buses requires adapted infrastructure, especially for the depots. BVG primarily relies on battery-electric drives but does not exclusively use them. Tests are currently being conducted with fuels made from used plant and cooking oil (HVO) to allow newer diesel vehicles to run longer.
However, the BVG has not yet commented on whether hydrogen drives will be considered in the long term. The new depots and the expansion of the electric bus fleet are a clear demonstration of BVG's commitment to transition towards a fully electric bus fleet, accompanied by the required infrastructure investments to enable daily operations of these zero-emission buses.
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